October 23, 2011 |
FROM THE VAULT (SUMMER 2011)
Patrick Grant – The Tailor
An early school report said: “Patrick is the instigator of all classroom disputes.” Whether he is the instigator of all workroom disputes, we don’t know. He is, however, definitely instigating a mini revolution in the world of men’s dressing. “There are still some beautifully dressed men in London. And then there are lots who could try harder.”
WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU?
“Bigger workrooms, more tailors. Very exciting.”
FIRST JOB IN FASHION?
“Sales assistant at Gap. Great shop floor bingo.”
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THIS FASHION LARK?
“I bought a rather tired old bespoke house on Savile Row.”
DO YOU EVER WEAR YOUR OWN IMPECCABLY CRAFTED CREATIONS?
“Everything bar my pants.”
ARE YOU A MULTITASKING SUPERSTAR?
“My brain is like a jumble sale gone bad.”
HAVE YOU GOT A FAMOUS FACE? FAMOUS ENOUGH TO BE RECOGNISED BY THE MASSES? TO MERIT AN OBSESSIVE STALKER?
“Only on Facebook, but that’s not proper stalking. A security guard stopped me at JFK to ask me about Harris Tweed last month.”
WHO’S YOUR MENTOR? DO YOU HAVE ONE?
“When I first started, John Kent taught me a lot about Savile Row and English tailoring and nervous breakdowns.”
IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU BE?
“I think I’d rather be Dennis the Menace. Was never really into superheroes.”
GOOD DESIGN IS…
“Dior once said the best dresses have the fewest cuts – or something like that. That sums it up, I think. Maximum grace, minimum fuss.”
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CATWALK EXTRAVAGANZA?
“First show was Vivienne Westwood at the Grand hotel in Paris, 1993. Campbell fell over.”
HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN ALL ABOUT FASHION?
“I could never afford to be fashionable, but I have always been into clothes.”
by Natalie Dembinska
Photographer Maria Ziegelboeck – www.mariaziegelboeck.com
